By Ryan Drury, July 12, 2022 at 1:11 p.m.
The Perth County OPP has filed charges stemming from a historic sexual assault investigation.
In a statement, police say the charges stem from an incident that took place in Perth East in 2001. It was said that the accused was in a position of authority and that the victim at the time of the alleged aggression was a teenager. As a result of the investigation, police have arrested and charged Howard Bean, a 72-year-old man from East Zorra-Tavistock Township, with sexual assault on a person under the age of 16 and sexual interference.
Defendant is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Stratford at a later date to answer the charges, which have not yet been proven in court.
Victims of sexual assault are not alone. If you or someone you know needs support, local resources are available to help. One organization you can contact is Victim Services of Perth County; you can contact them at (519) 600-4108.
If you are in an immediate crisis, call 9-1-1.